Drama On One

In The Middle of The Fields by Mary Lavin

Based on the acclaimed stage production of Mary Lavin's short story, directed by Joan Sheehy, and originally produced by Blood In The Alley Theatre Company. The evocative story centres around a young widow who displays a strong, independent spirit in running her farm. An encounter one night with a neighbouring farmer becomes emotionally charged and unsettling, posing provocative questions about past passions in a shifting and surprising story that will leave you captivated.

Cast & Production Credits

Kathy Rose O’Brien (Vera & Bridie)

Mark O’Regan (Ned)

Seamus Moran (Bartley Crossen)

Music composed by Tom Lane.

Music performed by Dermot Dunne.

Directed by Joan Sheehy.

Sound Design & Sound Supervision by Ciarán Cullen.

Presented by Kind Permission of the Estate of Mary Lavin.

Special thanks to Kathleen MacMahon.

Producer, Blood in the Alley: Geoff Gould.

Producer for RTÉ: Kevin Brew.

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The Ballad of the Stolwijk Rescue

Another chance to hear the award-winning documentary from our colleagues in The Lyric Feature. In December 1940, eight fishermen from Arranmore Island in County Donegal rescued 18 Dutch sailors from the SS Stolwijk, a cargo ship which had been wrecked on rocks in a hurricane force storm. Singer and multi-instrumentalist, Brían Mac Gloinn, who is one half of the well known folk duo Ye Vagabonds, heard the story from the last living eye witness, Andrew Early, who knew the lifeboat crew who effected the daring rescue. Using his testimony and that of other islanders, Brían has woven a radio ballad to commemorate the events of that day. The radio ballad is a particular form of radio storytelling that was pioneered by Ewan McColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker, where eyewitness accounts are augmented by new original music and sound effects to recreate the emotional context of an event. This may be the first ever Irish radio ballad.This programme was shortlisted for the Prix Italia radio awards in 2021.

Written, presented and performed by Brían Mac Gloinn,

Sound mixing by Brían MacGloinn and Damian Chennells

Produced by Brían Mac Gloinn and Eoin O Kelly

(first broadcast 24th of December 2020)

EPG: From The Lyric Feature: Ye Vagabonds Brían Mac Gloinn tells the story in word and song of the rescue of 18 Dutch sailors off Arranmore Island over 80 years ago.

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Wake by Irene Kelleher

In this touching comedy we eavesdrop on the thoughts of a young woman during her mother’s wake in the family home, in a play that explores the indeterminacy of grief and family relationships, amidst a motley crew of mourners determined to talk about anything except loss.

Cast & Production Credits

Irene Kelleher (Lily)

Gary Murphy (Dad)

Dawn Bradfield (Lily’s Mam, Bridget Fogarty, Aunt Rachel, & the Sexy Top!)

Mark O’Regan (Father Sean, Tommy Riordan & Uncle Danny)

Denis Conway (Toothie Teddy & Uncle Gerry)

Norma Sheahan (Aunt Jess & Aunt Sally)

Alex Murphy (Michael Sweeney)

Liz Fitzgibbon (Aoibheann & Cousin Aileen)

Composer: Cormac O’Connor

Director: Conall Morrison

Sound Supervision and Sound Design: Damian Chennells

Image: Marcin Lewandowski

Producer for RTÉ: Kevin Brew

The original stage production of Wake was directed by Geoff Gould. It premiered in 2021 at West Cork Fit Up, and has toured extensively since then.

If you or anyone you know has been affected by the issues raised in the piece, you can find helpline information at rte.ie/support

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Horace by John O'Donnell

Fidelma has a special gift. So when young couple Tom and Cathy join the bereavement counselling group, Fidelma sees a way that she can help them – until other darker secrets are revealed.

Dawn Bradfield was Fidelma

Stephen Jones played Darren

The role of Cathy was played by Aoibhinn McGinnity

Mark Huberman was Tom

Charlie McGuinness was Eugene

Bernie was played by Enda Oates

Sound design and sound supervision was by Mark Dwyer

Horace by John O’Donnell was directed by Gorretti Slavin

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Hecuba written by Marina Carr

Troy has fallen and the humiliated and bereaved, Hecuba, Trojan Queen wipes the blood of her slaughtered sons and grandsons off her body. As more sacrifices are demanded, how much more could one woman be asked to bear?

Listeners are advised that the play contains strong adult language that some may find offensive

Derbhle Crotty was Hecuba,

Declan Conlon played Agamemnon.

The role of Cassandra was played by Aoibhinn McGinnity,

Danielle Galligan was Polyxena.

Odysseus was played by Enda Oates and Ollie West was Polydorous

Sound design and sound supervision was by Gar Duffty

Hecuba by Marina Carr was directed by Gorretti Slavin

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Longing Lasts Longer by Penny Arcade.

Longing last Longer is a kick-ass comedy with guts, it's a refutation of nostalgia, It's a crack at gentrification; not only the gentrification of our cities but the gentrification of ideas. It's a stand up for authenticity, a kick against mediocrity. No one is spared not even the seemingly banal cupcake!

One thing for sure Penny Arcade tells you where to go and that's your own way!!!

Penny Arcade, an Andy Warhol Factory Superstar and a contemporary of Patti Smith and Debbie Harry, together with her long time collaborator Steve Zehentner brought Longing Lasts Longer to the Peacock stage in the Abbey Theatre for Dublin Fringe 2016.

In Penny's own words Longing Lasts Longer is:-

"a vindication for people over 50 and a context provider for people under 50"

"thinking is sexy people!.. let's bring back thinking!!"

Sound design by Steve Zehentner

Sound Supervision by Ciarán Cullen

Directed for radio by Gorretti Slavin 

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Sharon is not a happy child! On the contrary she is a young girl obsessed with the predictions of Nostradamus, the third secret of Fatima and the end of the World! She is worried that she doesn’t have a future, has no talent and falls under every radar. This all changes however when she meets Frank.

Frank her button accordion changes Sharon’s life, goes everywhere with her, is the talk of the town and gives her a ‘funny feeling in her tummy’ that she thinks may be self esteem. But as all the great love songs say, ‘nothing lasts forever’ and as catastrophe after catastrophe follows Sharon the only explanation is that it’s all Frank’s fault.

Featuring Joe Taylor & Sue Collins

With special thanks to Musician Peter Browne,

& to Fiona Rigney

Sound Supervision was by Mark Dwyer

Written & Performed by Sharon Mannion

Directed by Gorretti Slavin

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The Last, High King of Ireland by Patrick Fogarty

The Last, High King of Ireland tells the story of a day in the life of a hard-drinking man who has bestowed upon himself the title The Last, High King of Ireland. We follow the 'High King’ or ‘Tapper’ as he is better known to the locals, on his daily travels from morning to night in the fictional town of Molinheer.

The High King’s world is full of myth, mirth, and magic. The play is a snippet of the life of a forgotten man on the fringes of society, and those who he encounters.

Pat Kinevane Plays Tapper (The Last, High King of Ireland)

Joe Taylor played the part of Maloney

John D Ruddy was McCann

Sharon Mannion was Lisa of the Tithe.

The Tailor was played by Enda Oates

Dawn Bradfield was Lady of the Spuds

Bab the Barwoman was Noni Stapleton

Ellie Brosnan - Corkery played the child

All other parts were played by the company

Harpist Geraldine Doherty arranged and performed the music

Sound design and sound supervision was by Damian Chennells

The Last, High King of Ireland by Patrick Fogarty was directed by Gorretti Slavin

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Marie, a single mother in the dormitory suburbs, hides her unhappiness behind harsh humour; but the tedious, elderly neighbours she dismisses turn out to be hiding from harm themselves in their own shuttered bungalow.

Kathy Rose O'Brien played Marie

Pat Laffan ... Jim

Áine Ní Mhuirí was Mavis

and Ellie Sullivan made her début as little Laura.

Sound supervision was by Richard McCullough

Mr Sun by Gillian Grattan was produced by Aidan Mathews.

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Charolais a surreal comedy about love, longing and one woman’s intense rivalry with a Charolais heifer. This is a muddy place of simmering desire minced with a loneliness that cuts to the bone. Noni Stapleton who wrote the piece, plays both the protagonist Siobhan and her love rival the cow.

Siobhan is a woman who is very alone in the world. She wants to change that but the way she goes about doing so is off beat to say the least! She is looking for love and very determined but there are obstacles to her achieving that sense of belonging she craves. One of which happens to be a terribly beautiful Charolais Heifer, who appears to be vying for the affections of Siobhan’s fella.

There are bumps in the road including a pass remarkable mother in law played by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh and a less than committed lover in the form of Jimmy, a farmer played by Enda Oates.

Siobhan's method of getting rid of any perceived threat to her idea of happy families is very unusual. There is plenty of room for dark humour, and a little gothic horror here.

Sound Supervision was by Damien Chennells

Directed by Gorretti Slavin

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